15 February 2007, Rome – FAO today announced the launch of an interactive web site on the right to food, providing practical information for policy-makers, legal practitioners, civil society members, UN staff, academics and the general public.

Through the web site, users can increase their awareness of the human right to food, access resources for capacity-building at national and international levels, and find guidance, methods and instruments to assist in implementation of the right to food at the country level.

Resources include training materials and an e-learning course, tools to raise awareness of the right to food, and a virtual library containing manuals, technical papers, policy briefs, case studies and publications.

Adequate food, a human right

The right to food is the right of every person to have regular access to sufficient, nutritionally adequate and culturally acceptable food for an active, healthy life. It is the right to feed oneself in dignity, rather than a right to be fed.

The web site also features information on the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security. The Right to Food Guidelines were endorsed by the FAO Council in November 2004 and provide practical guidance to countries in their efforts to eradicate hunger by adopting a human rights-based approach.

“For the realization of the right to food, information is crucial,” says Barbara Ekwall, Coordinator of FAO’s Right to Food Unit, which was formed in 2006 and works to advance the implementation of the human right to adequate food. “A right can only be claimed by people who are informed. Rights can only be respected, protected and fulfilled by a country that is aware of its obligations and of means to bring about necessary changes. As a platform for information and information exchange, the dynamic web site assists rights holders and duty bearers in making the right to food a reality for all.”

Development of the web site was made possible with funding from the German government. To accommodate a wide range of users, a low-band, text-only version is also available, and the information can be downloaded to CDs and disseminated locally.

“The right to food web site is an excellent resource and a fine example of internal and external collaboration – from capacity-building activities, such as the e-learning modules based on IMARK methodology, to networking and successful case studies from around the globe,” says Anton Mangstl, Director of FAO’s Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building Division. Contact:
Barbara Ekwall
Coordinator
Right to Food Unit, FAO righttofood@fao.org
(+39) 06 570 55149